Crack and fatigue resistance are relevant evaluation criteria for welded joints and are decreased by tensile residual
stresses resulting from the welding and cooling process, while compressive residual stresses can have a positive
influence on the characteristics mentioned. In order to generate compressive residual stresses, a set of post weld
treatment procedures is available, like shot peening, hammering, etc. These procedures have the disadvantage that
they are time and cost extensive and have to be applied after welding. As another point, such technologies can only
produce compressive stresses at the top surface, i.e. can only contribute to the reduction of the risk of cracks initiated
at the surface, like fatigue cracks. A chance to generate compressive stresses over the complete weld joint during the
welding procedure is offered by the so-called Low Transformation Temperature (LTT -) filler wires. Compared to
conventional wires, these materials show lower phase transformation temperatures, which can work against coolingrelated
tensile stresses, resulting from respective shrinkage restraint. In consequence, distinct compressive residual
stresses can be observed within the weld and adjacent areas. The strength of these fillers makes them potentially
applicable to high-strength steel welding. Welds produced with different LTT filler wires have shown different levels
and distributions of the resulting residual stresses depending on the specific transformation temperature. The
transformation temperatures are determined by temperature measurement. Classical X-ray diffraction as well as
diffraction methods using high energy synchrotron radiation have been used for residual stress analysis. By means of
high energy synchrotron diffraction in reflection mode residual stress depth gradients can be determined nondestructively.
The phase selective nature of the diffraction measurements enables the simultaneous determination of
the phase specific residual stresses of all contributing crystalline phases within one experiment. The application of
white beam diffraction implies recording of a multitude of diffraction lines within the energy range of the provided
energy spectrum of the white beam. By this means phase specific residual stress depth distributions up to distances of
150 ìm below the surface can be analysed for steel using the energy dispersive set-up of the HMI-beamline EDDI at
the Bessy site, Berlin, providing an energy range between 20-150 keV. As a side effect quantitative phase analysis can
be carried out using white energy dispersive diffraction e.g. the determination of the content of retained austenite in the
weld.
Cold cracking resistance is a relevant evaluation criterion for welded joints and affected by residual stresses which result from the welding procedure. Compressive residual stresses can thereby have a positive influence on preventing cracking. A unique possibility of generating compressive residual stresses already during the welding procedure is offered by the socalled Low Transformation Temperature (LTT) filler wires. Compared to conventional wires, these materials show decreased phase transformation temperatures which can work against the cooling-specific contraction. In consequence, distinct compressive residual stresses can be observed within the weld and adjacent areas. The strength of these fillers makes them potentially applicable to high-strength steel welding. Investigations were carried out to determine the phase transformation behaviour of different LTT-filler materials. Transformation temperatures were identified using Single Sensor Differential Thermal Analysis (SS-DTA). Additionally Synchrotron radiation was used to measure the transformation kinetics of all involved crystalline phases during heating and cooling of a simulated weld thermal cycle.
For the safety and cost efficiency of welded high-strength steel structures, precise knowledge of the level and distribution of welding- and cooling-specific stresses and residual stresses is essential, since they exert a decisive influence on strength, crack resistance, and finally on the bearable service load. This paper presents innovative filler materials, of which the phase transformation temperature was deliberately adjusted via the chemical composition. The transformation behaviour of these martensitic Low Transformation Temperature (LTT-) filler materials shows direct effects on the local residual stresses in the weld and the HAZ. These effects can purposefully be exploited to counteract the thermally induced shrinkage of the material and to produce significant compressive residual stresses in the weld. Comparative welding experiments were carried out on 690 MPa high-strength base materials using various LTT-filler materials. High energy synchrotron radiation was used for residual stress measurement. Particularly the use of high energy synchrotron radiation makes it possible to detect the residual stress condition fast without destruction of material. Thereby, residual stress depth gradients can be determined simultaneously without removing material. In steel, gradients of up to 150 µm can be resolved in such a way. Furthermore, the application of high energy radiation permits determination of residual stresses of any available residual austenite contents. Results show significant dependence of transformation temperatures on the resulting residual stress level and distribution.
Cold cracking resistance is a relevant evaluation criterion for welded joints and affected by residual stresses which result from the welding procedure. Compressive residual stresses can thereby have a positive influence on preventing cracking. A unique possibility of generating compressive residual stresses already during the welding procedure is offered by the so-called Low Transformation Temperature (LTT) filler wires. Compared to conventional wires, these materials show decreased phase transformation temperatures which can work against the cooling-specific contraction. In consequence, distinct compressive residual stresses can be observed within the weld and adjacent areas. The strength of these fillers makes them potentially applicable to high-strength steel welding. Investigations were carried out to determine the phase transformation behaviour of different LTT-filler materials. Transformation temperatures were identified using Single Sensor Differential Thermal Analysis (SS-DTA). Additionally Synchrotron radiation was used to measure the transformation kinetics of all involved crystalline phases during heating and cooling of a simulated weld thermal cycle.